Guitar-bridge



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODOR IVOLFRAM, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

GUITAR-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,432, dated May 10, 1892.

Application filed October 8, 1891. Serial No. 408,086. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTHEODOR IVOLERAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Guitar-Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of guitar-bridges; and the objects of my invention are to provide an improved bridge of this class of such construction and arrangement as to facilitate the connection of the same with the face of the gnitar-bodyina firm and reliable manner, and in so doing obviate the tendency of a guitar-bridge to separate from said body through the strain of the strings thereon and to produce said connection in a simple, neat, and inexpensive manner. These objects I accomplish in the inannerillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of a guitar body having my improved bridge thereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line or a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear side elevation of the tail-piece, and Fig.4 is a view in perspective of one of the uniting pins or buttons.

Similar letters referto similar parts th roughout the several views.

a represents the body of the instrument, to the upper face of which is secured transversely in the usual position an oblong bridge or tail piece I). This bridge, as usual, is provided in its forward portion with string-at taching pins 0, with which the strings (Z are connected in the ordinary manner. In forming my improved bridge I construct the same with an extension or rearwardlyprojecting portion 6, said extension being preferably confined to the central portion of the bridge, although the same may be, if desired, continued throughout the length of the latter. In this extension 6 I form, as shown in the drawings, a pin-hole f, while in the outer side of the extension and extending at right angles with the hole f I form a pin-hole g, which intersects said pin-holef, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. I

7; represents an attaching button or pin, which is preferably formed of wood and which is approximately of a rivet shape, as shown. In securing the bridge to the top plate of the instrument-body the stem of the button is is inserted through a correspondingly-shaped hole formed in the upper plate of the instrument-body from the inner side of the latter, the enlarged head of said button being thus made to bear against the under side of the usual reinforcing-cleat is, secured to the under side of the instrument top plate beneath the bridge, through which said button-stem also passes. The upper or outer end of the stem of the button 7; also passes through the opening f of the bridge extension 6, within which said stem fits tightly. The outer end of said stem is trimmed oif until flush with the surface of the bridge. The button-stem is further locked in its position by means of a keypin 7o which is inserted within the pin-hole g, and which is driven through the stem of the button 7.3. From this construction it will readily be seen thatthebridge-piece is securely locked against being detached or loosened from the face of the instrument through any forward strain imparted thereto by the strings (Z. If desired, I may, as shown at in Fig. 1, form a similar connection of the instrument body and piece near each end of the latter. It is well known that the forward strain of stringed-instrument strings often results in a tipping forward of the bridge; but by my improved bridge it will be seen that not only is the area of bearing-surface 'between the bridge and body increased by the extension 6, but that the method herein described of connecting said extension with the instrumentbody is of such a character as to enable the bridge to withstand any strain which may be imparted thereto by the strings.

It will thus be seen that my improvement may be produced in a simple, neat,and inexpensive manner.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bridge for guitars, the combination, with the bridge-body I), having an extension 6 formed therewith and a pin-hole f in said extension, of a pin or button 75, the stem of which is adapted to pass through the instrument-body and said extension pin-hole, substantially as specified.

2. In a guitar-bridge, the combination, with the bridge-piece I), having extension 6 formed It and intersecting the latter, substantially as therewith and a pin-hole f formed in said and for the purpose specified. extension, of button 70, the stem of which is adapted to pass through the upper side of THEODOR VOLFRAM' In presence of BARTON GRIFFITH, C. O. SHEPHERD.

5 the instruinent-bodyand through said bridge pin-hole, and a key-pin 70 entering said bridge-extension at right angles with the pin 

